The heroine Bohdanka, Martha Issová, is a young woman born into a baker’s family whose wife, years earlier, in a fit of rage, cursed their seven sons into ravens. The parents shield their daughter from this tragedy, keeping the secret close. When Bohdanka, on the threshold of adulthood, learns of her family’s curse, she resolves to save her brothers, no matter the cost. The local witch, Viera Pavlíkov, lays out an impossible path: she must weave her brothers’ shirts alone—gather nettle, spin the thread, weave the cloth, and stitch every seam herself—without uttering a single word. The stakes are grim, and the resolve required is immense, as each silent stitch carries the weight of a family’s fate.
Her journey becomes a test not only of craft but of self-discovery. On the road, she meets the shy and stuttering prince Bartoloměj, Lukáš Příkazký, and a bond forms as they navigate a world full of secrets. Thanks to a magic comb lent by the witch, Bohdanka can glimpse fragments of the past and begin to understand the dark history of Bartoloměj’s kingdom and the costs of power. As their connection deepens, Bartoloměj invites Bohdanka to the castle, giving her a window into life at the court and exposing her to the complexities of royal duty, loyalty, and love.
At the heart of the court is Queen Alexandra, Sabina Remundová, Bartoloměj’s mother, who has long plotted to secure the throne for her favored heir. Her plan hinges on displacing Bartoloměj so that his younger brother Norbert, Václav Neužil, can ascend as king. Bohdanka’s unexpected presence at the castle unsettles Alexandra’s designs, and Bartoloměj’s growing affection for the mute girl gives him a newfound sense of kingship, challenging the old order. Alexandra escalates her schemes, weaving a more intricate plot meant to turn the court against Bohdanka and sever the pair.
Yet Bohdanka isn’t easily deterred. With the aid of the magic comb, she sees through the manipulation and stays true to the task—even when the path tests her resolve to speak up and reveal the truth that could separate her from Bartoloměj. She chooses to persevere, finishing the arduous work that will free her brothers before she confronts the court with the hidden truth. The revelation shifts the entire narrative: Alexandra never had a rightful claim to the throne, having risen through deceit and manipulation. As the truth comes together piece by piece, the kingdom’s future rebalances itself: Bartoloměj becomes king, Alexandra is exiled, and Bohdanka’s brothers are finally reunited with their worried parents.
